The bottom line is clear: Our vital interests in Afghanistan are limited and military victory is not the key to achieving them. On the contrary, waging a lengthy counterinsurgency war in Afghanistan may well do more to aid Taliban recruiting than to dismantle the group, help spread conflict further into Pakistan, unify radical groups that might otherwise be quarreling amongst themselves, threaten the long-term health of the U.S. economy, and prevent the U.S. government from turning its full attention to other pressing problems. -- Afghanistan Study Group

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The DoD is reporting a new death previously unreported by the military. Sgt. Joel D. Clarkson died at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany on Tuesday, March 16th. He was originally wounded during combat operations in an undisclosed location in Helmand province, Afghanistan on Saturday, March 13th.

The DoD is reporting a second new death previously unreported by the military. Chief Petty Officer Adam Brown death is only reported as being in an undisclosed location in Afghanistan on Thursday, March 18th.

The DND/CF is reporting the death of a Canadian soldier. Cpl. Darren James Fitzpatrick died at at the University of Alberta Hospital, Canada on Saturday, March 20th. He was wounded in an IED attack 25 km West of Kandahar, Kandahar province, Afghanistan on Saturday, March 6th.

NATO is reporting the deaths of two ISAF soldiers in two separate IED attacks in undisclosed locations in southern Afghanistan on Monday, March 22nd.

Baghdad:#1: In the first development, four civilians sustained injuries on Tuesday as an improvised explosive device went off near al-Olwiya Hospital in downtown Baghdad. The blast also shattered windows of the buildings nearby and damaged vehicles parked in the area.

A roadside bomb targeting a car carrying the director general of Baghdad Investment Commission, wounded four people in Karrada district, police said

#2: A roadside bomb was also detonated near a bank in al-Karada region in central Baghdad. The blast caused damage to the bank and nearby stores. However, there were no reports of injuries or loss of life in the incident.

#3: “An explosive device blew up near the Babel Hotel in al-Karada neighborhood," wounding two civilians who were taken to a nearby hospital,” a police source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency on condition of anonymity.

Hawija:#1: An Iraqi police officer has survived an attempt on his life when an explosive charge targeted his house in Kirkuk, a local police chief said on Monday. “On Monday, an improvised explosive device (IED) went off in front of the house of an officer at Huweija market (65 km southwest of Kirkuk), causing damage to the officer’s car and house,” Brig. Sarhad Qader told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.No casualties were reported, the official noted.

Mosul:#1: One civilian was killed in western Mosul on Monday by gunmen, according to a security source. “An electrician was killed Monday evening (March 22) by gunmen in front of his house in al-Tink neighborhood, western Mosul,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#2: Three mortars hit an area in eastern Mosul city on Tuesday noon. “The attack left no casualties,” a local security source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

Al Anbar Prv:#1: Police forces have defused a sticky improvised explosive device (IED) found inside a civilian vehicle in Falluja, a local security source said on Tuesday. “Bomb squad personnel have managed to defuse a sticky device found inside a civilian vehicle, which passed near a security checkpoint,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.No casualties were reported, the source noted.

Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"#1: A NATO military helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan today with Turkish soldiers on board, but the military alliance denied that anyone had been killed. The chopper came down on the outskirts of Wardak town, capital of the province of the same name south of Kabul, at around 0600 GMT, provincial spokesman Shahidullah Shahid told AFP. He said one of the Turkish soldiers on board was killed and three others injured but NATO denied there were any deaths."There are no fatalities," said Lieutenant Colonel Todd Vician, spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). He said that four or possibly five people had been injured according to initial investigations. The crash happened as two helicopters were landing at a Turkish-run base, Shahid said, adding that both belonged to NATO member Turkey. One crashed into a hillside near the base, known as a provincial reconstruction team (PRT), while the other landed safely, he said. "One Turkish soldier has been killed and three injured in the helicopter crash today," he told AFP.

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You may recall that a few days ago I posted in comments the announcement of Tony Blair's forthcoming visit to the European Parliament to discuss the Middle East. I thought that was rather, uhh, ironic. So, it seems, did Irish reporter David Cronin, who attempted to make a citizen's arrest of The Poodle for war crimes.

"Cronin, who works for Inter-Press news agency in Brussels, had intended to ask Mr Blair to go with him to a police station to be charged with committing a 'war of aggression'.

He left the room of his own accord after the incident, although when he returned half an hour later he was refused entry by security.

'My motivation in trying to arrest Blair is entirely based on my contempt for the crimes he has committed and abetted in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Lebanon and Serbia,' Cronin told EUobserver.com.

It is the second time that Mr Blair's bodyguards have had to step in to protect him in six months.

In October of last year the former Prime Minister was touring a West Bank mosque when he was assailed by a young Palestinian who accused him of being a terrorist."